Bangladesh have started their series against Pakistan with a Test and One Day International series is between home fixtures. They play the first Test in Rawalpindi which started on Friday but will head back to home right after that for a series against Zimbabwe. Then again they will return to Pakistan for the second Test beginning April 5, after playing an ODI on April 3.
“It is not ideal. You always want to go there at least seven or eight days before a Test match,” coach Russell Domingo said to reporters in Dhaka on Monday.
However, Bangladesh did not want to stay in Pakistan due to safety issues so that they have been playing in phases. Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka last year in Lahore after a decade of the horrifying terrorist attack. Domingo further said that he was happy with the form of some of the Bangladesh batsmen in domestic competition but also added that conditions would be different.
On the other hand, Tamim Iqbal has scored an unbeaten 334 runs on Sunday — the highest-ever first-class innings on Bangladesh soil in a local league game. Along with him, captain Mominul Haque and senior batsmen Mahmudullah Riyad and Liton Das have also been in good touch.
“The wickets that they are playing here don’t have much pace and bounce,” Domingo said. “I am sure Rawalpindi might have some pace and bounce… it is going to be a big challenge for the boys.”
However, he wants more commitment from his batsmen, especially in the away tours
“Some of the boys know that they have to put in some big performances on the back of a poor Test series against India,” he shared. “We have to show a bit more commitment with the bat, and find ways to manufacture scores even when the conditions are not good.“
Bangladesh had a rather forgettable series in 2019 where they lost all five of their Test matches including the last two defeats which came by an innings margin against India in November. However, Bangladesh visited Pakistan earlier this year in between tight security for a three-match Twenty20 international series in Lahore, which they lost 2-0 as well.
